"I'm a non-person!"

[Little Retail Rabbit]

Something from a couple of weeks back.

Lady and her adult daughter approach my till and I overhear them saying something along the lines of "Your father's paying for everything." They have a reasonable amount of clothing to buy, and no male in sight. I had a feeling they were about to use another person's card (its not all that unusual for spouses to borrow each others cards after all), but I couldn't decline the sale based on that tidbit alone.

Well, I was ringing everything up and as the mother withdrew a chip-and-PIN card from her purse, her daughter asked "That Dad's card?" The mother said "Yes."

So I got to go and ruin everything <.<

Me: "I'm really sorry, but now that you have just openly said that that isn't your card, I cannot accept payment from it."

Mother: "Its my husband's".

Me: "I understand that, and while I know its not at all unusual for couples to use each others cards, by law, using another person's card is fraud, and once, I, as the cashier, am I aware that a customer is using another individual's card, I cannot legally proceed with the payment."

Daughter: "That's bullshit! He's disabled!"

Me: "Well, is there another name on the card?"

Mother: "No, but I use this all the time."

Me: "Well now that I am aware of you using it, I simply can't continue with that form of payment. I would be breaking the law to do so, I'm not just trying to single you out, I'm just obeying the law."

Daughter: "He's bloody disabled! How is he supposed to go out and about?!"

Me: "Sorry, I don't know what to say, do you have another tender?"

Mother: "No, I don't have any cash."

Daughter: *practically snatching the card away* "I'll go get some from the cash point." *walking away* "This is fucking ridiculous..."

Me: *Turning back to the mother* I do apologise for this, but I just can't go ahead with that, I could lose my job...."

Etc.

Now, despite the daughter's outbursts, the mother was actually quite reasonable, I guess she could tell I was being polite and nice about it. I don't have any right to with-hold a card (in fact I have no right to even touch one) or accuse someone of card theft, but I can - no, must - refuse the sale if I know its not their card etc. But even though she's nice enough to me, she did go onto something ridiculous...

Me: *trying to be helpful* Perhaps you should look into getting a joint account or something, that way both of your names will be on the card.

Mother: "I can't open a bank account."

Me: *puzzled* Oh? Are you sure?

Mother: "Yeah, I can't actually open a bank account, you see, I'm a non-person."

Me: "Non-person?"

Mother: "Yeah, I don't have a passport or a driving licence, so I can't open one."

Me: "You don't necessarily need a passport of driving licence-"

Mother: *ignoring* I have no proof of who I am, and so I can't open one, I'm a non-person."

Me: "Well, you have a National Insurance number, right? That was issued to you, right?"

Mother: "...yeah..."

Me: "Well, you're not a non-person or non-entity if you have an National Insurance number because the fact you were issued one means that they are aware of your existence, there are records etc..."

She looked perplexed and even slightly annoyed that I wasn't agreeing with her, but at that point, the shitty daughter arrived with a pocketful of cash and a sour expression, so we finished up the transaction and they left.

But seriously...you only need a birth certificate, and even if you don't have a copy of your own, you can send off to obtain a copy. The very fact she has a NI number proves that she's not a "non-person" because she would never have gotten one (I think its the equivalent of a social-security number). I opened my bank account at age 12, I was 4 years away from getting my NI number, I didn't have a passport or driver's licence (obviously XD). I just think she maybe lazy and just loves spouting off the "non person" arguement. Lets face it, how did she get married without a birth certificate? More ignorance than suck on her part, but her daughter was a real treat

[Raveni]

I see people all the time that try very poorly to "live off the grid". The problem is that they have jobs where their bosses report all their info, they own property, etc... It doesn't matter if you have a bank account! We know you exist already!

[blas]

That or they are just one of those "emotional vampires" who take everything to an extreme and it's always something against them.

Someone I know not too long ago got a flat tire, and whined for days about how there was "nothing they could do!" to get it done, and calling the tire shop right away "wouldn't help anything!"

End result, it took nearly 5 days for them to get a flat tire fixed. Could have taken less than 24 hours if they didn't insist on whining and playing poor victim and ignoring any and all suggestions of help.

[barainga]

Im wondering why the father would go out to buy clothes he cant wear anyway, disabled or not.

[MoonCat]

For some people, the drama surrounding any problem they have is more important than finding a solution. That's what they live off of--drama.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Quoth Little Retail Rabbit

Me: *trying to be helpful* Perhaps you should look into getting a joint account or something, that way both of your names will be on the card.

Mother: "I can't open a bank account."

The real reason is, if her name was on the card, she would become responsible for the payments. And she doesn't want that to happen.

[Jay 2K Winger]

Quoth Ironclad Alibi

The real reason is, if her name was on the card, she would become responsible for the payments. And she doesn't want that to happen.

I'm willing to bet that this is the very cause here.

[Gizmo]

Quoth Ironclad Alibi

The real reason is, if her name was on the card, she would become responsible for the payments. And she doesn't want that to happen.

Actually no AFAIK. Me and Hubby share our cards and are second card holders on each others. That way both our credit rating stay good rather than one being good and one being relatively invisible. We tend to have a few: 0%er, standard usage, loyalty and overseas cards. Each except the 0% is automatically paid off each month.

Although I have a card with my name on it that is an account opened by him I have no responsibility for those payments at all. He is totally responsible for whatever I do with that account. Same for my accounts that he has a second card on - it's my responsibility only.

The only difference is if you have a joint bank account or mortgage - then you are equally liable for those accounts only.

And I agree with the comments above- all they asked was the name and address of the second person. They didn't do a credit check or ID check on me as far as I know (at least it doesn't appear on my reports).

Even if she doesn't have a bank account etc. she should appear on the Council Tax/residency registers etc. which would verify she exists if they needed to.

[bankworking]

Quoth Gizmo

Actually no AFAIK. Me and Hubby share our cards and are second card holders on each others. That way both our credit rating stay good rather than one being good and one being relatively invisible. We tend to have a few: 0%er, standard usage, loyalty and overseas cards. Each except the 0% is automatically paid off each month.

Although I have a card with my name on it that is an account opened by him I have no responsibility for those payments at all. He is totally responsible for whatever I do with that account. Same for my accounts that he has a second card on - it's my responsibility only.

The only difference is if you have a joint bank account or mortgage - then you are equally liable for those accounts only.

And I agree with the comments above- all they asked was the name and address of the second person. They didn't do a credit check or ID check on me as far as I know (at least it doesn't appear on my reports).

Even if she doesn't have a bank account etc. she should appear on the Council Tax/residency registers etc. which would verify she exists if they needed to.

QFT
Authorized signers can get cards issued with their name on them, but are not responsible for the charge. JOINT signers or CO-signers are responsible. It all depends on the paperwork (there can be older forms you signed that apply to new "attached" services), but generally, if you signed for it, you are responsible, if the other person was able to add your name without you, you aren't responsible.

Some places will ask for the SSN of the authorized signer, but I know we don't actually have to have it, just the name and date of birth.

[manybellsdown]

Lets face it, how did she get married without a birth certificate?

You need a birth certificate to get married in Canada?

I got married in Vegas, and all I needed was to list my place of birth on the form, although you did need a driver's license or other form of ID. They don't even accept BCs as identification by themselves.